In 2012, Ohio City Incorporated launched a pilot program of coed recreation t-ball baseball for 85 neighborhood youth that was met with unprecedented demand and from that Near West Recreation was formed.

Today, Near West Recreation League serves eight Near West side neighborhoods of Cleveland, OH through a collaboration between four partnering nonprofit Community Development Corporations - Ohio City Inc., Tremont West Development Corporation, Metro West Community Development Organization, and North West Neighborhoods CDC. In 2019 (pre-Covid), Near West Recreation was serving close to 1,300 kids annually through seven sports league and a variety of other out of school time programming.

Near West Recreation was created in response to the large influx of young families and young professionals - who will soon become parents - moving into the Near West side. The four community development organizations that founded Near West Recreation have a common goal to build family friendly neighborhood with opportunities for families from all socioeconomic backgrounds. One of its solutions, to create a recreation league that serves as a focal point for community and business involvement. A recreation league that introduces families from different backgrounds to each other at a young age, leveling the playing field and exposing families to the benefits of diversity. A recreation league that has invested coaches from the community to serve as positive role models and trusted adults for all the youth. Most importantly, a recreation league that encourages youth, parents, residents and business owners to take control of their neighborhood and feel a sense of ownership and pride for their community.